Codex of Uthman

The original Codex of Uthman (the copies of the Quran that Caliph Uthman allegedly compiled and distributed) does not exist today. There are no surviving manuscripts that can be definitively identified as one of the actual copies produced under Uthman’s order in the mid-7th century.

Key Points:

1. No Verified Original Manuscript – While some early Quranic manuscripts exist, such as the Sana'a Manuscript, Topkapi Manuscript, and Samarkand Manuscript, none have been proven to be an original Uthmanic copy.

2. Radiocarbon Dating Discrepancies – Some ancient Quranic fragments (like those in Sana'a or Birmingham) date as early as the late 6th century, suggesting they may predate Uthman’s standardization. Others date to the 8th century or later, after Uthman’s time.

3. Differences in Early Manuscripts – The earliest manuscripts show textual variations and corrections, which challenge the idea of a perfectly preserved Uthmanic codex.

4. Islamic Traditions Acknowledge Destruction of Other Manuscripts – The historical narrative states that Uthman ordered other Quranic materials to be burned to ensure uniformity. However, there is no surviving authenticated copy of the original Uthmanic codices.

5. Scholarly Consensus – Even Islamic scholars acknowledge that while there are early Quranic manuscripts, none can be conclusively linked to Uthman’s original codices.

Conclusion:

No physical copy of the original Codex of Uthman exists today. The Quran we have today is based on later transmissions and copies, which themselves underwent revisions over time.